Saturday notes: Solo back, Fowlkes steps away

There’s a glimmer of optimism in Seattle. The winless Reign FC (0-6-1, losers of six straight) welcome goalkeeper Hope Solo to the active roster for the first time this season on Saturday against Portland Thorns FC.

Her inclusion in Saturday’s Reign FC roster gives a team desperate for any signs of a turnaround something to look forward to. Coach Laura Harvey’s comments suggest Solo isn’t ready to play and that the addition of her to the roster brings much needed experience, but there is still the possibility that Solo plays in this Pacific Northwest Derby against league co-leaders Portland.

“We are pleased with Hope’s recovery,” Harvey said in a statement. “Her experience, knowledge and ability have given the players a much-needed boost. We are mindful of Hope’s continued road to full match fitness, but we are happy to be getting her in and around the team and on the field again.”

Even if that doesn’t sound like Solo will be in the XI, our eyes will be on that team sheet come gametime.

These are the realities players thinking about life after soccer have to face in a league in which the large majority of players are making well under $20,000. Plenty of very good former WPS players are not in NWSL for personal reasons not too unlike Fowlkes’ decision. Players have other ambitions and there are serious realities of the pro WoSo life. Good for Fowlkes for taking a leap.

Chatting with Diana Matheson

Washington Spirit midfielder Diana Matheson has been one of the best players in the National Women’s Soccer League thus far. On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to chat with her about her time in the league and the upcoming USA-Canada match in Toronto, minutes from her hometown of Mississauga, Ontario. Have a listen:

Andrews goes back-to-back

It shouldn’t go without noting that Morgan Andrews, future U.S. women’s national team regular and occasional blogger for this site, won her second consecutive Gatorade National High School Player of the Year award this week. She is headed to Notre Dame in the fall. The 2019 U.S. World Cup team has Andrews’ name written all over the midfield.

Breakers and U.S. midfielder Heather O’Reilly helped dish out the award to Andrews:

Sad that Fowlkes retired less than a day after missing that sitter of a header from 3 yards out. Would have tied the match, and led to the best result this season for the Red Stars. I wish she could have gone out on a high note. I wonder if her departure is related to the incoming German stars? Was she facing a waiver?

tigerdee

SBFC did the same thing with Jill Lloyden….active but not playing yet….excited to see Hope Solo in the USWNT game in NJ.

Elaine

Just watched the interview with D. Math, great idea from The Equalizer by the way to add short interviews to the site. Keep it up and do more of it so that fans can get to know a little more about the players and what they think. If anyone thinks this upcoming match is just another “friendly” to the Canadians, think again. This game means so much more to them than the US. In their minds, they came so close to beating us the last time. If they win this game, psychologically it would boost their confidence to the utmost knowing they can beat the #1 ranking team in the world, just the way it did for the Japanese NT. It would be a vindication for the last time these two teams met when Sinc felt “it was stolen from us”. I hope the US does not take this game too lightly. Opening the door just slightly to the Canadians might cause a whole rush into the back room.

Steglitz49

It is a great pity that the Americas do not seem to have a competition that anyone takes any notice of unlike the Asian Cup or the European Championship. The Asian Cup will also serve as the ladies’ qualifier for the World Cup 2015 (Euro-13 doesn’t). Would that there was a tournament between like for example USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and 2 others this year or next. Maybe there is and I have missed it.

Elaine

The US women’s NT plays in the CONCACAF tournament for the World Cup and Olympic qualifiers, along with teams from North America , Central America, and the Carribean Associations. We also participate in the Algarve Cup and sometimes in the Four Nations Tournament. Other than that, it has only been the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics.

Steglitz49

The AFC Women’s Cup is so old that it started its life as the ALFC Cup back in the days when soccer still used Ladies outside the British Isles. There have been 17 Cups and Japan has never won it!

Thailand is an unusual winner and India has been second twice. Else it has been dominated by China and North-Korea (though N-K are banned since WC-11).

Given the population of this region, FIFA may have to reorganize it. Any change may not be logical for the lasses because FIFA work on the men’s performances not the ladies.

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The Equalizer was founded in 2009 with a goal of bringing first-class media coverage to women's soccer. Since then we've brought you breaking news, in-depth analysis and everything you need to follow Women's Professional Soccer, the U.S. Women's National Team and more. Now we are leading the way in coverage of the National Women's Soccer League with editors and writers across North America.